What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry in which trained laypersons provide confidential, one-to-one, Christian care. We care for people who are struggling with a crisis such as death of a spouse or child, loss of home or job or a loved one, diagnosis of a serious illness, relocation, loneliness, or perhaps just a rough patch in life’s journey.

Who is involved in Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministers are members of the parish who are trained as care givers. We have completed over 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving. The training topics include listening, feelings, boundaries, confidentiality, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in caregiving. Additionally, we are trained to provide care in specialized situations such as divorce, hospitalization, bereavement, and aging.

But, Stephen Ministers are not counselors; we are trained care-givers whose role is to be present, to listen actively, reflect thoughts and feelings, and to care. We usually meet with our care receivers once a week for about an hour for as long as they continue to benefit from the relationship. Everything that happens in these meetings is confidential; even the relationship itself is confidential.

We meet twice a month for peer supervision in which we help each other to be faithful and effective caregivers, and hold each other accountable to perform our ministry for the benefit of our care receivers.

Stephen Leaders are members of our congregation who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize, and supervise our Stephen Ministers and match people in need of care with Stephen Ministers.

New for 2020: Telecare

Given the amount of uncertainty and stress in our lives right now, Stephen Ministers are trained in providing telecare so you can have a sympathetic listener on the other end of a phone call, FaceTime chat, or Zoom session. We will check in faithfully, listen with care and compassion, and offer support and prayer. These will be informal but confidential calls for as long as you need them. By having these calls you’re not signing up for a Stephen Ministry relationship.

•  Read personal stories or watch these videos from All Souls Stephen Ministers, Stephen Leaders, and several former care receivers.

• See the very informative website of the national Stephen Ministries organization.

Stephen Leaders
Madeline Feeley, Nancy Pryer, Christina Robinson, and Raymond Yee

Stephen Ministers
Gert Allen, Vicki Carlton, Maggie Cooke, Marilyn Flood, Dan Gordon, Edward Moore, Bruce Morrow, Tom Reilly, Suzanne Siebert, Gina Steele, Tim Sullivan, Carol Terry, David Wight, and Susan Wight

How can I receive a Stephen Minister’s care?

If you feel that you could benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please contact Rector Phil Brochard at (510) 848-1755, ext. 2, Associate Rector Maggie Foote at (510) 848-1755, ext. 3, Madeline Feeley at (510) 495-4512, or the parish office at (510) 848-1755, or allsouls@allsoulsparish.org.